Wakefield v Hull FC: No time for Hull to sulk as Wildcats lie in wait

Peter Smith

HULL FC have had little time to dwell on the disappointment of exiting the Challenge Cup.

Just five days after their 24-6 home loss to Leeds Rhinos in the Cup quarter-finals, Hull are back in action tonight in a crucial Super League fixture at Wakefield.

It is the sort of game Hull will be expected and need to win as they joust with neighbours Hull KR for the final place in the all-important top-eight.

Wakefield have lost their last 16 league games but tonight’s hosts have had 10 clear days to prepare, include four new signings in their squad and have been revitalised by the appointment of one-time Hull coach Brian Smith.

It all adds up to a tricky fixture for the visitors and forward Jordan Thompson is aware they can’t afford any mistakes.

“It’s a tough one,” conceded Thompson. “The Challenge Cup is something everyone wants to go for and it’s disappointing to be out, but we haven’t got time to sulk.

“We are desperate for these two points against Wakefield. Maybe last week will be a kick up the backside for us.

“We’ve come off a few defeats now, after a good run we’ve had a few hiccups and we need to get back on it.”

Hull take on Wakefield again at KC Stadium on Sunday and Thompson thinks they have come across Trinity at just the wrong time. “They have got a lot of things going on. They have got new signings, a new coach, new everything. You can imagine they will be coming out to make a statement, but we have to weather that. We know what we need to do and the job we have to do.

“It is always tough going to Wakefield, they have got a good set of lads and you can be 20-0 up, thinking you’re going to walk it and they can come back at you and snatch the two points.

“It is a tricky place, but we need to be professional and get the two points. It is all about us.”

For possibly the first time this season, Wakefield have things in their favour. Recruits Kevin Locke, Michael Sio, Anthony Walker and Jordan Tansey have been named in their 19-man squad and Smith has had extra time to work with his new charges.

Wakefield have not played since a defeat at Catalans on June 20 and Smith said: “You don’t get a lot of 10-day breaks. The payback is that we’ve got two games in a few days, but certainly we’ve got truckloads of work done in those 10 days. We feel like we are in a pretty good spot.”